Luca Giordano, called Fa Presto

The canvas has been rather tautly lined and is firm and stable on its stretcher. Th Inspection under UV is impeded by the varnish which fluoresces inconsistently but reveals scattered retouches, mostly concentrated in the darks and notably in the cape upper left and in lower section. There is an isolated area of repaint Samson's chest, approx. 2 by 1 in. The painting requires no further work and can be hung as is, offered in an elaborately carved gilt wood frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Previously unpublished, this Samson Slaying the Philistines by Luca Giordano has been dated by Prof. Giuseppe Scavizzi to the mid-1660s. Giordano reprised the subject much later in his career, around 1695-96, for a series of paintings depicting episodes from the life of Samson, now in the Museo del Prado, Madrid (inv. no. 5123) and again in a canvas dating to around 1703, published by Scavizzi while in the del Bosco collection, Poirino, Turin.¹

We are grateful to Prof. Giuseppe Scavizzi for endorsing the attribution on the basis of digital images and for proposing the date.

1. For the Samson compositions see O. Ferrari and G. Scavizzi, Luca Giordano, L'opera completa, Naples 1992, vol. I, p. 340, cat. no. 568 and p. 357, cat. no. 708, reproduced vol. II, p. 767, fig. 713 and p. 853, fig. 916.